Traveling block



Nov. 2l, 1967 R. SMITH, JR 3,353,794

TRAVELING BLOCK Z656 9W/7,; Jz

INVENTOR.

Nov. 21, 1967 R. SMITH, JR 3,353,794

TRAVELI NG BLOCK Filed Aug. 5, 1966 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 y y I ff d I l i 5 55 ig I@ .5f

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Aff/@My Nov. 21, 1967 R. SMITH, JR 3,353,794

TRAVELING BLOCK Filed Aug. 5, 1966 l v 6 Sheets-Sheetl 5 Page 9v/rv JZ INVENf'OR N0v.21,1967 RsMiTHJR 3,353,794

TRAVEL I NG BLOCK Filed Aug. 5, 1966 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 26? 5 a FSM/rg ff I N VE N TOR.

Affaf/Vf/ Nov. 21, 1967 Filed Aug. 5, 1966 R. SMITH, JR

TRAVELING BLOCK 6 Sheecs--Sheetv 6 ZM M2744 ff I NVEN TOR.

United States Patent C 3,353,794 TRAVELING BLUCK Roger Smith, Jr., Houston, Tex., assigner to Byron Jackson, Inc., Long Beach, Calif., a corporation of Delaware Filed Aug. 5, 1966, Ser. No. 570,559 8 Claims. (Cl. 254-192) ABSTRACT F THE DISCLOSURE This relates to a split traveling block for an adaptor open at one side for the reception of pipe or the 4like eX- tending therethrough, in which at least one sheave block is mounted at each side of the opening solely by means of a single bolt or pin to facilitate removal of such sheave block for independent use, and in which each sheave block has a base means with a land complementary to a land on the adaptor for stabilizing the assembly. In addition, each of the side sheave blocks may be provided with a detlector to cushion and minimize contact by the sheave block with pipe extending through the traveling block assembly.

Background of the invention This invention relates to side opening traveling blocks of the type generally characterized by United States Patent No. 3,101,928 issued Aug. 27, 1963, United States Patent No. 2,734,718, issued Feb. 14, 1956, and reissued Feb. 16, 1965, as Re. 25,730. Reference may also be had to D. F, Johns United States Patent No. 2,474,846 issued July 5, 1949, and L. Patterson Patent No. 2,742,260 issued Apr. 17, 1956.

Summary of the invenlion This invention has as its primary purpose the provision of an assembly wherein a plurality of traveling blocks are mounted in an arrangement having at least one open side or front portion and in which the traveling blocks are attached to an adaptor suitable for an elevator supporting means, and in which the blocks are mounted substantially rigidly on the adaptor by a single bolt or pin means easily and quickly removable for disassembling each block from the combination.

It is an object to provide an adaptor having lands cooperating with complementary lands on a block assembly and with a single pin fastening means, whereby the block and adaptor assembly is rigidly held together and whereby removal of the single fastener means such as a pin will rapidly and easily release a block assembly for such purposes as running tubing or rod, in the well-known manner.

It is an object of the invention to provide an assembly of an adaptor with means for supporting an elevator, a plurality of block assemblies rigidly attached to said adaptor, said combined block assemblies and adaptor being open on at least one side and said blocks being unattached to each other.

It is an `object to provide a readily detachable block for a rigid assembly of a plurality of blocks and an adaptor, the detaching means being a single pin.

Further objects will become evident as the invention is described in the following detailed description taken with the accompanying drawings.

Brief description of the drawings In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a front elevational view depicting a traveling block forming the subject matter of the present invention, and showing schematically in broken lines an elevator thereto attached by linkage and a fragmentary section of Fatented Nov. 2l, 1967 ICC a string of well casing operatively positioned in the assembly;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view partially in cross-section, taken on the line 2 2 ot' FIG. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 3 is a top plan view partially in cross-section, taken on the lines 3 3 of FIG. 1,.looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 4 is a front elevational View, partially in crosssection, taken on the line 4--4 of FIG. 3, looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary side elevational view, partially in cross-section, taken on the line 5--5 of FIG. 4, looking in the direction ofthe arrows;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of one form of an adaptor as disclosed herein;

FIG. 7 is a top plan view of a modified traveling block assembly having three sheave blocks, one lof which is in the rear;

FIG. 8 is a front elevational view of the device of FIGURE 7;

FIG. 9 is a side elevational view of the device of FIG- URES 7 and 8, being a view taken on the line 9-9 of FIGURE 8, looking in the direction of the arrows; and

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a form of adaptor, designed for use with a three sheave block assembly.

Description of the preferred embodiments Referring to the construction shown in the various ligures, and referring first primarily to FIG. 1, there is here shown a traveling block assembly 1, with an elevator assembly 2, shown in broken lines operatively attached to traveling block assembly 1 through the usual linkage, the assemblies being shown in operative p-osition to raise or lower tubing or other elongated objects such as a well casing or the like, 3, for oil wells, the casing being also illustrated in broken lines.

In the arrangement shown in FIG. 1, the drawing illustrates, from a front view, an adaptor 4 of generally horizontal U-shape, on the arms of which are mounted the sheave blocks 5 and 6, the blocks 5 and 6 each being removably mounted as hereinafter described.

Depending from the adaptor 4, one from each arm, are the elevator support links 7 and 8, which are connected to the adaptor 4 by means of the clevises 9 and 10, respectively. To the elevator links 7 and 8 is attached, such as by means of similar clevises, the elevator 2, in a wellknown manner.

The elevator 2 is shown as being in place on the well casing 3 for support of the casing in raising or lowering operations, and the casing 3 extends upwardly vertically through the elevator assembly and through the traveling block assembly between the blocks 5 and 6.

There is provided on the block 5, the deiiector or protector 11, and on the block 6, the deiiector 12, which deflectors 11 and 12 are on the inside contiguous surfaces of the blocks 5 and 6 respectively, and serve the purpose of a bumper and guard for the casing 3, preventing the casing from engaging the surface of either block, and thus preventing damage to the casing, the block or the tackle, or more importantly, preventing injury to the person operating the traveling block assembly caused by crushing of the operators fingers between the casing and the block should the casing not stay aligned in the center of the space between the blocks 5 and 6.

A conventional cable or wire line 13, shown best in FIGS. 1 and 2 in fragmentary form, is threaded into each of the blocks and extends to a suitable crown block (not shown).

Details of construction of the various elements of the traveling block assembly described generally above are more clearly set out in FIGURES 2 through 6 inclusive,

sa to which reference is now made. Since the description of one block is equally applicable to the other, only one will be described in detail with occasional reference to the other.

Referring first to the illustration of FIGURES 4 and 6, there is here shown the adaptor 4l, the unique construe tion of which is largely responsible for the relatively inexpensive, rugged, and versatile traveling block assembly disclosed herein. This adaptor, in the arrangement shown in FIG. 6, is intended for use with two sheave blocks. It comprises a generally U-shaped main body or frame structure 14, with a rear or back portion 15, and two side arm portions 16 and 17. Preferably the back (at least the interior thereof) is somewhat curved as illustrated best in FIGS. 3 and 6 so that it will be less likely to interfere with a casing passing verticali' through the space between the arms 16 and 17 and as an aid in centering the casing when the block assembly is placed thereon. The lower portion of the body 14, as illustrated best in FIG. 4, is preferably reduced in thickness or offset from the inner and outer margins of the arms 16 and 17 to form a skirt or depending ange 18. This skirt 18 is drilled, or otherwise perforated on each side to provide the pin holes 19 and 2d by means of which the pins for the linkage supporting the elevator assembly will be accommodated as will also be more apparent hereafter. Preferably the extent of the set-back or recessing of the skirt 1S on each side from the marginal edges of the respective arms is suicient to compensate for the width of a clevis whereby the clevis will be substantially flush with the inner and outer margin of the arm 17 on each side and thus prevent it snagging or being in the way of, the casing.

On top of the side arms 16 and 17, are the upstanding lugs 21 and 22, which likewise are drilled to provide the bolt or pin holes 23 and 24 whereby the blocks 5 and 6 are removably attached to the adaptor 4 by means of pins, bolts, or the like. In this connection, it is noted that this fastening means in each instance comprises only a single bolt or pin.

Still referring to FIG. 6 primarily, the tops of the arms 16 and 17 are provided `with the lands 25 and 26. These lands, as will be described more fully later, cooperate with mating lands on the bottom surface of the blocks 5 and 5 to maintain a rigid assembly.

Each of the blocks shown herein comprises a single sheave arrangement, but this is for illustrative purposes only, it being equally feasible and a common expedient to have any desired number of sheaves to the block.

As best illustrated in FIGURES 3 and 4, the block assembly comprises a sheave 27 housed between the inner sheave guard or 28 and outer sheave guard 29. To guards 28 and 29 are rigidly attached together in spaced relation by the bottom spacer 3() and top spacer 31, the attaching means used in assembling the inner and outer guards and bottom spacer 3'@ together being the bolts 32, (see FIGURE 2) and the attaching means for the inner and outer guards 2S and 29 and the top spacer 31 being the bolts 33. These bolts 32 and 33 extend through the guards and spacers and clamp them together in a rm rigid assembly.

As best evidenced fromy FIG. 5, the bottom `spacer 30 is recessed upwardly and has a coniiguration to receive and t over the lug 22, as shown at 34, but the spacer preferably extends downwardly to approximately the bottom edges of the inner and outer sheave guards 28 and 29, leaving a loose t to expedite assembly of the block to the adaptor.

VOne sheave guard-here shown as the inner guard 23 preferably has its base portion squared off as will be apparent from FIGURES l, 2 and 4, to form a land 37 adapted to rest on the Yland 26 of the adaptor 4, when the block is assembled on the adaptor, which engagement of the land 37 of the block and the land 26 of the adaptor also holds the block against rocking movement with respect to the adaptor. It will thus be seen that the adaptor and block have complementary lands which prevent any substantial relative movement between the adaptor and the block. In this connection, the block is mounted on the adaptor by means of a pin or bolt 3S passing through the inner and outer sheave guards 28 and 29 and through the pin holes 24, which single mounting holds the block rigidly assembled t0 the adaptor. Should it be desired to remove one block from the traveling block assembly, for independent use such as for running rod in the wellknown manner, it is only necessary to remove the bolt or pin 33 for that block. This simplies the removal of the block from the adaptor, and the change is thus a rapid and simple one to make.

As exemplified by the construction of the block 6, each of the blocks 5 and 6 have their front and rear portions between the guards closed by means of closure panels. As is clearly apparent from a description of block 6, there is provided a front closure panel 39, and a rear closure panel 4t). Each of these closure panels is bifurcated at 41 in its upper portion to provide the tongue portions 42 and 43 and as shown in FIGS. 2 and 5, such panel is hingedly mounted in recesses 44 or 4S of the bottom spacer Sil by means of the hinge pins 46 and 47 which pass through and are journalled in the inner and outer guards 28 and 29, and tabs 43 and 49 are provided on the panels whereby such panels may be swung outwardly away from the block at the upper portion to Igive ready access to the sheave therein mounted. The bifurcation 41 at the upper end of the panel allows the wire line 13 to travel through the block without interference by the panel. As shown by the construction herein disclosed, the upper end of the panel may be fastened in closed position by means of the bolt 50 which releasably attaches the tongue 42 to the outer guard 29 and the bolt 51 which likewise attaches the tongue 43 to the inner guard 28. Other fastening means may be employed if desired. As disclosed herein, the rear closure panel 40 is of identical construction and arrangement, and each of the blocks 5 and 6 is likewise identical in construction in this respect, although of course the inner and outer guards will be interchanged in assembled position.

Referring again for illustration to the sheave 27, and as disclosed most clearly in FIG. 4, there is provided a shaft or axle 52 on which is the hub sleeve 53, on which, in turn, the sheave 27 is mounted. The axle 52, here shown in the form of a bolt extending between the guards 2S and 29 of the block, is retained in place by the nut 54 and a suitable lock washer or the like 55. As here shown, the ring 56 is provided to retain the hub sleeve 53 in position. The head portion of the axle 52 as well as the lock washer and nut 55 and 54 respectively, are countersunk so as to be substantially iiush with the outer surfaces of the guards of the block. Suitable bearings 57 are positioned between the hub of the sheave 27 and hub sleeve, although this is a detail that may be varied as desired.

As best shown in FIGURES 3 and 4, a protector 12 (and the same description applies to the protector 11 on the block 5) may be mounted on the face of the inner guard 28 by means of a mounting bracket 53 held in place by capscrews or the like 59. This protector 12 is preferably provided with a rubber or flexible outer surface, and has a reinforcing bar 60 whereby any contact by casing 3 with the block will be cushioned.

This arrangement is a safeguard against injury to an operator who may have his hand located between the casing and the sidewall, and will prevent crushing of 1ingers. These protectors 11 and 12 are helpful in ali-gning the casing, and thus preventing damage to the blocks 5 and 6 and adjacent tackle in normal operation.

From the above description, it is evident that there is provided a combination block and adaptor arrangement which is comparatively inexpensive, but which is rigid insofar as relative movement is concerned, and in which either block may be quickly disassembled from the adaptor, or reassembled to it, by the simple expedient of removing or replacing a single bolt 38. When thus disassembled, the block may -be used for mnning rod or any other hoisting chore, in the well-known manner of devices of this type.

The clevises 9 and 10, which receive the linkage for the elevator 2 as will be apparent from FIGURES 4 and 5, are retained in their respective assembled positions by means of the clevis pins 61 and 62. These pins, in turn, are retained in place in the pinholes 19 and 20 respectively by means of the retainer washers 63 and 64k which are fastened to the clevises by means of the capscrews 65 and 66, the retainer washers -being adapted to tit into a groove in pins 61 and 62 to prevent the displacement thereof. As noted earlier, the elevator links 8 and 7 respectively are thus attached to the adaptor.

Referring to the modified construction shown in FIG- URES 7, 8, 9 and 10, there is provided an adaptor 67, generally similar to adaptor 4v but which has at the rear thereof, the lug 68 which corres-ponds generally in description to the lugs 21 and 22 of the arrangement previously described of FIGURES 1 through 6 and which is on the top of the rear section of the adaptor. Likewise, the adaptor 67 is provided with the lugs 21a and 22a on the arms thereof in the same manner as the adaptor of FIGURE 6 was provided with the lugs 21 and 22. The upper surface of the adaptor 67 is similarly provided with lands 25a and 26a and, in addition, has a land 69 provided on the upper rear surface of the adaptor 67. The general configuration of the adaptor 67 is that of the adaptor shown in FIGURE 6 with the provision ofthe lug 68 and land 69 on the rear thereof. Similarly, the lugs 21a and 22a are provided with pinholes 23a, and 24a, and the lug 68 is provided with pinhole 78. The adaptor 67 has a skirt 18a in the same manner as the skirt 18 of adaptor 4 of FIGURE 6. This skirt 18a is provided with pinholes 19a and 20a which are of the same construction as the holes 19 and 20 of the adaptor 4, and perform the same function.

The adaptor 67 is intended to operate with (side) blocks 5a and 6a and a rear block 71 which adds greatly to the load capacity and stabilization of the block assembly. These blocks 5a, 6a and 71 are of identical construction to the lblocks 5 and 6 previously described. The blocky 71 has a bottom land 37C and is removably attached to the adaptor 67 by means of the pin or bolt 38a in the same manner as the block 5 is attached to the adaptor 4 by the pin 38, and the block 71 is not attached directly to block 5 or 6.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be hereinafter described or will become apparent to those skilled in the art, and the novel features of the invention will be defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A traveling block assembly comprising in combination:

(a) a plurality of sheave blocks each of which has at least one sheave therein and inner and outer sheave guards thereon, one of which inner and outer sheave guards of each sheave block has on its base portion a land;

(b) an adaptor open on one side and with an unobstructed vertical opening to accommodate the vertical passage therethrough of an elongated object such as an oil well casing or the like, said adaptor having a generally horizontal U-shaped configuration with a back portion and side arms, each of said side arms having a depending skirt portion and an upstanding drilled lug portion, and each of said side arms having a land on the upper surface thereof;

(c) means comprising the sole attaching means removably attaching each said sheave block to said adaptor side arm lug portion, with the land of said sheave block positioned complementary to the land on said side arm whereby said sheave block and adaptor are held by said lands and said sole attaching means in relatively rigid assembly when said attaching means is in place, but whereby said sheave block may be readily removed from said assembly for use separately thereof by removal of said sale attaching means;

(d) elevator means carried by said skirt means on said adaptor arms; and l (e) supporting means such as a wire line carried by said sheaves and adapted to be operated to support, raise, and lower said traveling block assembly.

2. A traveling block assembly as provided in claim 1, wherein the plurality of sheave blocks comprise two sheave blocks, one mounted on each arm of the adaptor and having the space between the sheave blocks open and unobstructed.

3. A traveling block assembly as provided in claim 1, wherein a removable pin comprises the sole attaching means attaching each sheave block assembly to said adaptor.

4. A traveling block assembly comprising in combination:

(a) a plurality of sheave blocks each having inner and outer sheave guards;

(b) an adaptor open on its front side and with an unobstructed vertical opening therethrough to accommodate the vertical passage of an elongated object such as an oil Well casing or the like, said adaptor having a generally horizontal U-shaped, 4configuration with a back portion and side arms, each of said side arms and said back portion having means for attaching thereto one of said sheave blocks;

(c) means comprising an integral portion of said adaptor and an integral portion of each of at least two of said sheave blocks, retaining said sheave blocks and said adaptor in relative rigid assembly;

(d) an attaching means removably attaching each of said sheave blocks to said adaptor and comprising the sole attaching means retaining each said sheave block and adaptor in assembled relation;

(e) and means whereby an elevator or the like may be attached to said adaptor, said sheave block may be readily removed from said assembly for use 'separately thereof by the removal of said sole attaching means.

5. A traveling block assembly as provided in claim 4, wherein the plurality of sheave blocks comprises three sheave blocks, one mounted on each side of the front opening and one mounted on the rear of said adaptor, and each of said sheave blocks being unconnected to the other.

6. A traveling block assembly as provided in claim 2, wherein the sheaves and the adaptor each has a land portion complementary to the other and wherein each of the sheaves is retained in position on the adaptor by means of a single removable pin.

7. A traveling block assembly comprising in combination:

(a) a plurality of sheave blocks, each of which has at least one sheave the-rein and inner and outer sheave guards thereon, one of which inner and outer sheave guards of each sheave block has on its base portion a land;

(i) said plurality of sheave blocks having space between the sheave blocks open and unobstructed;

(ii) said inner sheave guard of each sheave block assembly having a deflector means for deecting well casing and the like from contact with the sheave block;

(b) an adaptor open 0n one side and with an unobstructed vertical opening to accommodate the vertical passage therethrough of an elongated object such as an oil well casing or the like, said adaptor having a generally horizontal U-shaped configuration with a back portion and side arms, each of said side arms having a depending skirt portion and an upstanding drilled lug portion, and each of said side arms having a land on the upper surface thereof; (c) means comprising the sole attaching means removably attaching each said sheave block to said adaptor side arm lug portion, with the land of said sheave block positioned complementary to the land on said side arm, whereby said sheave block and adaptor are held by said lands and said sole attaching means in relatively rigid assembly when said attaching means is in place, but whereby said sheave block may be readily removed from said assembly for use separately thereof by removal of said attaching means;

(d) elevator means carried by said skirt means on said adaptor arms; and

(e) supporting means such as a wire line carried by said sheaves and adapted to be operated to support, raise and lower said traveling block assembly.

S. A traveling block assembly comprising in combination:

(a) a plurality of sheave blocks, each of which has at least one sheave therein and inner and outer sheave guards thereon, one of which inner and outer sheave guards of each sheave block has on its base portion a land;

(i) said plurality of sheave blocks having space apart to leave a space therebetween open and unobstructed;

(ii) said plurality of sheave blocks being provided with deector means on their inner surfaces;

(-b) an adaptor open on one side and with an unobstructed vertical opening to accommodate the vertical passage therethrough of an elongated object 3 such as an oil well casing or the like, Said adaptor having a generally horizontal Uehaped configuration with a back portion and side arms, each of.`

said side arms having a depending skirt portion and an upstanding. drilled lug portion, and each of said side arms having a land on the upper surface thereof;

(c) means comprising the sole attaching means removably attaching each said sheave block to said adaptor side arm lug portion, with the land of said sheave block positioned complementary to the land on said side arm, whereby said sheave block and adaptor are held by said lands and said sole attaching means in relatively rigid assembly when said attaching means is in place, but whereby said sheave block may be readily removed from said assembly for use separately thereof by removal of said attaching means;

(d) a land portion on each of said sheaves and said adaptor complementary to the other, wherein each of the sheaves is retained in position on the adaptor by means of a single removable pin;

(e) elevator means carried by said skirt means on said adaptor arms; and

(f) supporting means such as a wire line carried by said sheaves and adapted to be operated to support, raise and lower said traveling block.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,778,602 l/l957 Fate 254--192 3,l0l,928 8/1963 Dyer 254-194 3,278,163 10/1966 Marks 254-192 EVON C. BLUNK, Primary Examiner.

H. C. HORNSBY, Assistant Examiner'. 

1. A TRAVELING BLOCK ASSEMBLY COMPRISING IN COMBINATION: (A) A PLURALITY OF SHEAVE BLOCKS EACH OF WHICH HAS AT LEAST ONE SHEAVE THEREIN AND INNER AND OUTER SHEAVE GUARDS THEREON, ONE OF WHICH INNER AND OUTER SHEAVE GUARDS OF EACH SHEAVE BLOCK HAS ON ITS BASE PORTION A LAND; (B) AN ADAPTOR OPEN ON ONE SIDE AND WITH AN UNOBSTRUCTED VERTICAL OPENING TO ACCOMMODATE THE VERTICAL PASSAGE THERETHROUGH OF AN ELONGATED OBJECT SUCH AS AN OIL WELL CASING OR THE LIKE, SAID ADAPTOR HAVING A GENERALLY HORIZONTAL U-SHAPED CONFIGURATION WITH A BACK PORTION AND SIDE ARMS, EACH OF SAID SIDE ARMS HAVING A DEPENDING SKIRT PORTION AND AN UPSTANDING DRILLED LUG PORTION, AND EACH OF SAID SIDE ARMS HAVING A LAND ON THE UPPER SURFACE THEREOF; 